Powder distributor for use on aircraft



T. INGOLDSBY POWDER DISTRIBUTOR FOR U$E ON AIRCRAFT Filed Sept. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 12, 1937.

Oct. 12, 1937. T. INGOLDSBY POWDER DISTRIBUTOR FOR USE ON AIRCRAFT Filed Sept. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Shet 2 47 gejrycbldsya Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNETED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE POWDER DISTRIBUTOR FOR USE ON AIRCRAFT Terence Ingoldsby, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Application September 5, 1935, Serial No. 39,356

2 Claims.

My invention relates to powder distributors for use on aircraft, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is an object of distributor which will effectively der substance,,such as insectici the invention to provide a distribute a powde, o-r fire extinguishing compounds from an aircraft.

More particularly,

hopper which may be mounted the invention concerns a on the craft and within which an endless conveyor isoperatively mounted, driven by suitable propellers through the forward motion of the aircraft.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a conveyor having a novel mounting means, permitting the conveyor to adjust itself with respect to the material to be discharged.

It is a still further object of provide a deflector means at the the invention to discharge mouth of the hopper, insuring even distribution of material.

Figure 1 is a side elevation equipped with my invention.

of an airplane Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the hopper.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional'view illustrating the drive for the conveyor.

Figure 5 is a detail of the drive between the conveyor chain and sprocket.

There is illustrated an aircraft fuselage l, and customary cockpit l0, including a l2. Upon the underside of the fuselage N there is mounted in any approved manner, 3.- hopper 3. The hopper l3 in the present instance is of a tapering formation, the reduced or apex portion disposed toward the rear of the larged or forward portion formed therein a door I 4 thereof being craft. The en- 5 of the hopper l3 has l6, by means of which the powdered material is placed in the hopper. The

door may include any suitable as indicated at IT.

fastening means,

Extending longitudinally of the hopper l3, there is an endless conveyor Ill prises a rectangular framework struction, and extending tran The conveyor |8 com- 9, of light consversely thereof,

adjacent each end there are revolubly mounted rollers 2|], and 2|, and trained a ers there is a'conveyor belt 23. be formed of canvas or other round these roll- The belt 23 may suitable flexible the hopper I3, and the reduced end M of the material, and upon its outer face cleats 24 are secured.

The shaft 25 of the roller 2| projects beyond the sides of the frame I 9, being suitably journalled as at 26, and upon respective projecting ends of the 5 shaft a flexible coupling 21 is secured. The coupling in the present instance, is a flexible sleeve, although other means may obviously be employed.

The rollers 23-2| are divided intermediate their lengths, and at such points upon respective shafts 'of the rollers there is keyed a small sprocket wheel 2 8, about which a sprocket chain 29 is trained. Thus, the rollers 202| will be driven in unison, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The sprocket chain 29 lies flush with the 15 periphery of the rollers 20-2| and permits the conveyor belt 23 to snugly engage the rollers.

Immediately to the rear of the rollers 2|, 2. discharge mouth 30 is formed in the underside of hopper terminates in a downwardly directed de- 20 flector plate 3|, against which discharged material may strike for the purpose of breaking any lumpy particles, as well as securing a more even distribution of the material.

The drive for the conveyor will now be dealt with, and by way of illustration, the drive is shown as comprising a pair of propeller units 32, one being positioned upon opposite sides of the hop-- per. However, a single propeller unit may be found suflicient.

Inasmuch as the units are identical in construction, but one unit will be described. A sleeve housing 33 is suitably bolted to the side of the hopper, enclosing the shaft 25, and includes a concentric annular housing 34, within which there is revolubly mounted a shaft 36, upon which there is keyed a worm gear 31. The shaft 36 may be journalled in bearings 38 to provide a support and maintain the shaft in alignment with the shaft 25, and the coupling 27 to which it is suitably fixed.

A worm 39 is suitably journalled in the annular housing 34, and is in mesh with the teeth of the gear 37, the opposite ends 4|], 4| of the shaft of the worm projecting beyond the housing 34. Upon the end 4|) of the shaft a propeller 42 is fixed, and upon the end portion 4| there is secured a brake drum'43. Operatively associated with the drum 43 a brake band 44 is shown, the latter 50 being actuated by grip and release of the drum through a link mechanism 45 which may be motivated through suitable means (not shown) in the cockpit I2.

It should be noted that the frame discharge mouth 30, but is free to partake of to begin distribution of upward and downward movements, the shaft 25 serving as a pivot, and by reason of this construction the frame l9 will rest upon the material, indicated at A, and will follow its descent, as it is discharged by the conveyor. Therefore the conveyor will be in contact with the material at all times, regardless of the level or inclination of the aircraft, insuring positive distribution of material.

t will also be understood that the cleats 24 of the conveyor will have a pulverizing action on the material in its passage thereover, and this is an important factor in the successful operation of the device, since it has been found. that due to atmospheric conditions, various insecticides have a tendency to become a lumpy or more or less solid mass.

The operation The operation will be readily understood from the following description. The aircraft is flown at a suitable elevation, and when it is desired the material, the leverage lfi is actuated to release the brake band 44, when the propellers 42 will be free to be driven by theforward motion of the craft. The rotation of the propellers will impart rotation to the worm 39 and to the shafts 25-46, by virtue of the worm gear 31, with consequent rotation of the conveyor i8, since the rollers 2ii--2l are interconnected through the sprocket wheels 28 and chain 29. If the distribution of material is to o, be stopped, for any reason, it is only necessary to actuate the leverage 45 to contract the brake band 44, stopping rotation of the propellers 42. It will therefore be apparent that distribution of material may be started or stopped, at will. As the material is discharged from the hopper the conveyor will follow downwardly thereabove, insuring engagement with the material, and the powder or other material discharged will be evenly distributed, clear of the craft through its engagement with the deflector 3|.

The device has been successfully tested in the distribution of grasshopper bait, the craft having been flown at an altitude of about 100 feet, although this elevation will vary, depending upon the thickness of the spread, and other factors, as well as the power and size of the craft which would determine the width and power of the slipstream to spread the bait. While I have shown and described a certain preferred construction, it will be obvious that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims. As an illustration, clutch means for disconnecting the propellers 42 from the conveyor shaft may be employed instead of the brake band 44 and drum 43; and the ratio between the worm 3S and gear 31 may be varied to obtain the desired speed of distribution of material.

Also, the cleats may be altered or made of different materials and of different shape to tear or convey the material to the opening. The drive chain shown may in some instances, be insufficient to carry the load or may, if overloaded, cause warping of the conveyor. Consequently, for certain conditions, two or more chains may be necessary. Also in larger planes of the cabin or similar type, this device may be built to be placed within the cabin thereof.

1. A distributor for distributing substances from an aircraft comprising in combination with the craft a hopper mounted thereon having a discharge opening upon its under side, a transverse shaft mounted in one end of the hopper, a frame pivotally mounted at one end upon the shaft, a transverse shaft mounted in the frame, a roller mounted on each of the shafts, a sprocket wheel associated with each roller, a sprocket chain trained therearound, a conveyor belt trained about said rollers, a gear on one of the shafts, a gear in mesh therewith, propeller means for driving said last named gear, and means for controlling rotation of said shafts.

2. A distributor for distributing substances from an aircraft comprising in combination with the craft a hopper mounted thereon having a discharge opening upon its under side, a transverse shaft mounted' in one end of the hopper, a frame plvotally mounted at one end upon the shaft, a transverse shaft mounted in the frame, a roller mounted on each of the shafts, a sprocket wheel associated with each roller, a sprocket chain trained therearound, a conveyor belt trained about said rollers, a gear upon the first named shaft, a housing fixed to the hopper, a shaft journalled therein in alignment with the first named shaft, a flexible coupling between said shafts, a propeller shaft journalled in the housing and extending exteriorly thereof, a gear on the shaft in mesh with the first named gear, a propeller carried by said propeller shaft, and means on said propeller shaft for controlling rotation of the first named shaft.

TERENCE INGOLDSBY. 

